Applications of Multiconductor Transmission Line Theory to the Prediction of Cable Coupling. Volume 2. Computation of the Capacitance Matrices for Ribbon Cables

Abstract

Abstract : Multi-conductor ribbon cables using closely coupled dielectric-coated conductors are now used extensively to interconnect electronic subsystems. General techniques involving solution of the multiconductor transmission line equations can be used to predict unwanted interference or crosstalk in the cable. Inherent in these techniques is knowledge of the per-unit-length transmission line capacitance and inductance matrices of the ribbon cable. A computer implemented numerical technique for determining these matrices for ribbon cables is described. The per-unit-length charge distributions on the conductor and dielectric surfaces are described by Fourier series with the potential and displacement vector equations at these surfaces enforced as boundary conditions. A metric inversion techniques is used to develop elements of the generalized and transmission line capacitance matrices. Computer program GETCAP was written in a user-oriented format. The user simply describes the physical characteristics and GETCAP computes the per-unit-length capacitance matrices for the ribbon cable described.